Structural member

ABSTRACT

A structural member is disclosed having a male member of generally U-shaped cross section. The male member is provided with a pair of opposed male webs to provide opposed male contact surfaces. A male flange connects one end of each of the male webs and an external reinforcing flange projects outwardly from the other end of each of the male webs. A female member is adapted to fit inside the male member and is provided with a pair of opposed female webs to provide female contact surfaces. Each female contact surface is adapted to be disposed adjacent a registering male contact surface. An adhesive is disposed between each of the registering male contact surfaces and the female contact surfaces to bond the female member to the male member.

United States Patent Phillips [15] 3,656,270 [451 Apr. 18,1972

[54] STRUCTURAL MEMBER [72] Inventor: Boris Phillips, Los Angeies,Calif. [73] Assignee: United State Steel Corporation [22] Filed: Feb.18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 12,373

Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorney-Robert J. Leek, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A structural member is disclosed having a male member ofgenerally U-shaped cross section. The male'member is provided with apair of opposed male webs to provide opposed male contact surfaces. Amale flange connects one end of [52] [1.8. CI. ..52/693, 52/732, 287/189.36 R each of the male webs and an external reinforcing flange pro-[51 1 Int. Cl ..E04b 1/38, E046 3/04 jects outwardly from the other endof each of the male webs. [58] Field of Search ..52/593-595,634, Afemale member is adapted to fit inside the male member 52/639, 642, 690,691; 287/189-3 54 and is provided with a pair of opposed female webs toprovide female contact surfaces. Each female contact surface isReferences C1199 adapted to be disposed adjacent a registering malecontact surface. An adhesive is disposed between each of the register-UNITED STATES PATENTS ing male contact surfaces and the female contactsurfaces to 3,029,914 5/1962 Macomber ..52/729 bond the female member tothe male member. 1,884,221 10/1932 Ragsdale ..52/84 2,386,019 10/1945Watter ..52/84 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS v 11 Claims, 23 DrawingFigures 869,640 1941 France ..52/693 26 "T I4 I I2 mm I l ,4 I M d 3 T SN fi/F LAlQhzZ/L PATENTEDAPMBIQR 3,656,270

sum u 0F 4 FIG. 6A Flat 65 FIG. 7A

FIG 73 FIG. 8A F/GI 8B 34 v Aiiamay STRUCTURAL MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Heretofore, girders, trusses, and the like have beenconstructed as by welding, riveting, or the like, strips and hot rolledstructural shapes, such as angles, beams, or the like, together to formthe desired structural member. The yield strength of about 33,000 toabout 36,000 psi of each of the component members is limited by theshape of the conventional components themselves. Such limitations areundesirable in many industrial structures where high ratios of loadingcapacity to dead weight are economically and architectually desirable.

Conventional structural members are shown in the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issued 23 2,556,011 Swayze et a1. 6/5/512,556,470 Del Mar 6/12/51 2,608,500 Del Mar et a1. 8/26/52 2,644,777Havens 7/7/53 2,907,127 Waugh et a1. 10/6/59 3,249,659 Voelker 5/3/663,283,464 Litzka 11/8/66 3,300,839 Lichti 1/31/67 OBJECTS OF THEINVENTION It is the general object of this invention to avoid andovercome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to priorart practices by the provision of an improved structural member which:

1'. provides an extremely high ratio of loading capacity to dead weight;

2. possesses a high yield strength;

3. is adaptable to a relatively inexpensive adhesive bonding technique;and

4. provides relatively large adhesively bondable contact areas betweenthe component members thereof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid objects of this invention,and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceedsare achieved by providing an improvedstructural member having a malemember of generally U-shaped cross section. The male member is providedwith a pair of opposed male webs to provide opposed male contactsurfaces. A male flange connects one end of each of the male webs and anexternal REIN- FORCING flange projects outwardly from the other end ofeach of the male webs. A female member is adapted to fit inside the malemember and is provided with a pair of opposed female webs to providefemale contact surfaces. Each female contact surface is adapted to bedisposed adjacent a registering male contact surface. An adhesive isdisposed between each of the registering male contact surfaces and thefemale contact surface to bond the female member to the male member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a betterunderstanding of this invention, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of a malemember;

FIG. 1B is a horizontal sectional view of one embodiment of a femalemember of the improved structural member;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a truss embodying themale member as a chord member and a plurality of female members utilizedas diagonal members;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view taken along lines 2B-2Bof FIG. 2A in the direction of the arrows and showing in detail thecontact surfaces and the adhesive between the male memberand the femalemember;

FIG. 2C is a vertical-sectional view of the truss shown in FIG. 2A takenalong the lines 2C-2C in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 2D is an enlarged side-elevational view of the joint between themale member and the female member and showing, in addition to the usualmale and female contact surfaces between the male member and the femalemember, a top peripheral edge contact surface on the female memberadhesively bonded to the male flange of the: male member;

FIG. 2E is a view similar to FIG. 2D but eliminating the top peripheraledge contact surface on the female member and showing the top surface ofthe female member cut off substantially at right angles to the sides ofthe female member;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a girder utilin'ng themale members as top and bottom flange members thereof and employing acorrugated web-type female member as the plate or web member of suchgirder;

FIG. 3B is a vertical-sectional view of the girder shown in FIG. 3A andtaken along the lines 3B--3B of FIG. 3A in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3C is another vertical-sectional view of the girder shown in FIG.3A taken along the lines 3C-3C of FIG. 3A in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 1A showing two alternative embodimentsof the male member wherein the left-hand male web is provided with aserrated contact surface and the righthand male web is provided with acorrugated contact surface;

FIG. 4B is a view similar to FIG. 1B showing an alternative embodimentof the female member wherein the left-hand female web is provided with aserrated contact surface and the right-hand female web is provided witha corrugated contact surface;

FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIGS. 1A and 4A of a further a1- temativeembodiment of the male member wherein the lefthand male web is providedwith a convex arcuate contact surface and the right-hand male web isprovided with a concave arcuate contact surface;

FIG. 5B is a view similar to FIGS. 18 and 48 showing another alternativeembodiment of the female member wherein the left-hand female web isprovided with a convex arcuate contact surface and the right-hand femaleweb is provided with a concave arcuate contact surface;

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary side elevational view of an alternativeembodiment of the male reinforcing flange shown with a generallyserrated form;

FIG. 6B is a fragmentary plan view of a female reinforcing flange havinga generally serrated form;

FIG. 7A is a view similar to FIG. 6A showing a corrugated malereinforcing flange;

FIG. 7B is a view similar to FIG. 68 showing a female reinforcing flangehaving a generally corrugated shape;

FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIGS. 6A and 7A and showing a generallyconvex arcuate male reinforcing flange;

FIG. 8B is a view similar to FIGS. 6B and 7B of a generally convexarcuate female reinforcing flange;

FIG. 9A is a view similar to FIGS. 6A,7A and 8A and showing a generallyconcave arcuate male reinforcing flange;

FIG. 9B is a view similar to FIGS. 6B,7B and 8B of a generally concavearcuate female reinforcing flange; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of an alternativeembodiment of a truss having a male member and a female member withsloping contact surfaces and an adhesive with spacer beads therein thusfacilitating the positioning of the female member within the male memberwithout removal of the adhesive.

Although the principles of this invention are broadly applicable tostructural members in general, this invention is particularly adaptedfor use in conjunction with trusses, girders, and the like and hence ithas been so illustrated and will be so described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference to the form of thisinvention illustrated in the drawings and referring particularly to FIG.2A, a structural member, such as a truss or the like (FIGS. 2A-2E), isindicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

TRUSS The truss 10 has male members or chord members or first members 12(FIGS. 1A,2A2E) of generally U-shaped cross section (FIGS. 1A,2A2E).Each chord member 12 has opposed male or first contact surfaces 16(FIGS. 1A,2B,2C) on each male web 14 (FIGS. 1A,2A-2E). For the purposeof connecting one end of each of the male webs 14, a male or firstflange 18 (FIGS. lA,2A-2E) is disposed therebetween. The means utilizedto provide structural rigidity to the male member 12 are external ormale first reinforcing flanges 20 (FIGS. 1A,2A2E) projecting outwardlyfrom the other or free end of each of the male webs 14. The maleexternal reinforcing flanges 20 are further reinforced by male or firstlips 22 (FIGS. 1A,2A2E) projecting upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1A ordownwardly (not shown), or angularly (not shown), from the male externalreinforcing flanges 20.

A female or diagonal or second member 24 (FIGS. lB,2A-2E) is adapted tofit inside the male member 12 and is provided with a pair of opposedfemale or second webs 26 (FIGS. 1B,2A-2E) which female webs 26 areprovided with female or second contact surfaces 28 (FIGS,. 1B,2A-2E).Each female contact surface 28 is adapted to be disposed adjacent aregistering male contact surface 16 (FIGS. 2A,2B,2D,2E) to provide arelatively large contact area between the male member 12 and the femalemember 24. In order to bond the female member 24 to the male member 12,an adhesive 30 (FIGS. 2B,2D) such as, for example, the type EC 1838ambient temperature setting adhesive, manufactured by Minnesota Miningand Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, is disposed between eachof the registering male contact surfaces 16 and the female contactsurfaces 28.

As shown particularly in FIG. 1B, the female member 24 is provided witha female or second flange 32 (FIGS. lB,2A-2E), which female flange 32connects one end of each of the female webs 26. To provide structuralreinforcement with the female member 24, an internal female or secondreinforcing flange 34 (FIGS. 1B,2A-2E) projects inwardly from the otheror free end of each of the female webs 26 and is provided with a femaleor second lip 36 (FIGS 1B,2A-2E) on the inner ends of each internalfemale reinforcing flange 34. The lips 36 may extend upwardly(FIGS.1B,2C) or downwardly (not shown) or angularly (not shown) from theflanges 34.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will be understood by those skilled in theart that for the purpose of providing additional bonding between themale member or chord member 12 and the female member or diagonal member24 of the truss 10, as shown in FIG. 2D, the female member 24 may beprovided with a top peripheral edge contact surface 38, which surface 38is adhesively bonded, as explained above, to the male flange 18 of themale member 12.

FIG. 2E shows an alternative embodiment of a female member, such as thefemale member 24 provided with a top peripheral edge contact surface 38disposed substantially at right angles to the sides or female flange 32,of the female member 24 In this embodiment the top peripheral edgecontact surface 38 (FIG. 2E) does not contact the male flange 18 of themale member or chord member 12.

GIRDER 10 The structural member 10 such as the girder shown in FIGS.3A-3C, utilizes male members 12 as flange members disposed in adhesiveengagement on either side of a female member 24% the form of acorrugated web member. The corrugated web member 24 is provided with aplurality of alternating female contact surfaces 28 which are adhesivelybonded, as explained above, to the contact surfaces 16 of the male webs14 of the flange members 12 FIG. 4A shows a male member 12 in which theleft-hand male web 14 is provided with a generally serrated male contactsurface 16. The right-hand male web 14 is provided with a generallycorrugated male contact surface 16 FIG. 4B shows a female member 24having a left-hand female web 26 provided with a generally serratedfemale contact surface 28. The right-hand female web 26 (FIG. 4B) isprovided with a generally corrugated female contact surface 28.

In FIG. 5A the left-hand male web 14 has a generally convex arcuate malecontact surface 16 and the right-hand male web 14 is provided with agenerally concave arcuate male contact surface 16.

FIG. 5B shows a female member 24 having a left-hand female web 26provided with a generally convex arcuate female contact surface 28 and aright-hand female web 26 provided with a generally concave arcuatefemale contact surface 28.

It will be understood to those skilled in the art that the arcuate formsshown in FIGS. 4A-4B, SA-SB may be generally circular, parabolic,hyperbolic, elliptical or the like.

FIG. 6A shows a generally serrated external male reinforcing flange 20.FIG. 7A shows a generally corrugated external male reinforcing flange20. In FIG. 8A, the external male reinforcing flange 20 is generallyconvex arcuate in form. FIG. 9A shows a generally concave arcuateexternal male reinforcing flange 20.

FIG. 6B shows a generally serrated internal female reinforcing flange 34In FIG. 7B, the internal female reinforcing flange 34 is generallycorrugated in form. In FIG. 8B a generally convex arcuate internalfemale reinforcing flange 34 is shown. FIG. 9B shows a generally concavearcuate internal female reinforcing flange 34.

In FIG. 10, the adhesive 30 is provided with a mono layer of mini ballsformed of glass, sand, silica particles or the like functioning asspacers 40; the contact surfaces 16 (of the male member l2) and 28* (ofthe female member 24") are tapered; and the contact surfaces 16 28" arespaced a distance d slightly greater than the diameter or width of thespacers 40. When the female member 24 moves from the dotted-lineposition to the solid-line position adhesive contact and removal isminimized.

The male lips 22 and female lips 36 may also be serrated, corrugatedconcave arcuate or convex arcuate.

It will be understood to those skilled in the art that alternatively thefollowing ambient temperature setting adhesives, thermally settingadhesives and adhesive films 30 may be employed:

Trade Name or Trade Mark Surlyn A" conomer resin USS Nexus P-0003"thermoplastic adhesive USS Nexus 5-8002" thermosetting epoxy basedtwo-component adhesive (ambient cured) USS Nexus 5-8002 thermosettingepoxy based two-component adhesive (ambient cured) USS Nexus 8-8005thermosetting epoxy based twocomponent adhesive (ambient cured) USSNexus 5-8007" thermosetting epoxy-based two-component adhesiveManufacturer E.I. du Pont de Nernours & Co.

United States Steel Corp.

United States Steel Corp.

United States Steel Corp.

United States Steel Corp.

Minnesota Mining 8: Manufacturing Company Type XA3428 deaerated glassbead adhesive Type EC2328 deaerated glass bead adhesive Minnesota Mining& Manufacturing Company BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTSOF THE INVENTION 2A-2E) and the girder 10 (FIGS. 3A-3C) which providean' extremely high ratio of loading capacity to dead weight, possess ahigh yield strength, are adapted to a relatively inexpensive adhesivebonding technique, and provide relatively large adhesively bondablecontact areas between the component members 12,24 (FIGS. 2A-2E) andl2,24 (FIGS. 3A-3C) thereof.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred and alternativeembodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described indetail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. A structural member having:

a. a first longitudinal member of generally U-shaped hollow crosssection provided with:

1. a pair of opposed first webs to provide opposed first contactsurfaces and having an external reinforcing flange projecting outwardlyfrom one end of one of said first webs,

2. a first flange connecting one end of each of said first webs, and

b. a second longitudinal member of generally U-shaped hollow crosssection fitting inside said first longitudinal member at an angularrelationship and provided with:

l. a pair of opposed second webs to provide second contact surfaces,each second contact surface being adapted to be disposed adjacent aregistering first contact surface. so that only a portion of said secondcontact surface registers with said first contact surface, and

2. a second flange connecting one end of each of said second webs,

c. an adhesive disposed between each of said registering fust contactsurfaces and said second contact surfaces to bond said second member tosaid first member, and

d. said external reinforcing flange having a first lip.

2. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein said second memberhas an internal reinforcing flange projecting inwardly from one of saidsecond webs, and said internal reinforcing flange has a second lip.

3. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein said second memberhas an edge contact portion secured to said first flange by an adhesive.

4. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein one of said secondwebs is generally arcuate.

5. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein said externalreinforcing flange is substantially straight.

6. The structural member recited in claim 4 wherein said one of saidsecond webs is generally concave.

7. The structural member recited in claim 4 wherein said one of saidsecond webs is generally convex.

8. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein said first member isa chord member of a truss.

9. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein said second memberis a diagonal member of a truss.

10. The structural member recited in claim 2 wherein said second webmember has a generally flat corrugated cross sectional shape and isprovided with a flat contact surface.

11. The structural member recited in claim 2 wherein said secondreinforcing flange is substantially straight.

1. A structural member having: a. a first longitudinal member ofgenerally U-shaped hollow cross section provided with:
 1. a pair ofopposed first webs to provide opposed first contact surfaces and havingan external reinforcing flange projecting outwardly from one end of oneof said first webs,
 2. a first flange connecting one end of each of saidfirst webs, and b. a second longitudinal member of generally U-shapedhollow cross section fitting inside said first longitudinal member at anangular relationship and provided with:
 1. a pair of opposed second websto provide second contact surfaces, each second contact surface beingadapted to be disposed adjacent a registering first contact surface, sothat only a portion of said second contact surface registers with saidfirst contact surface, and
 2. a second flange connecting one end of eachof said second webs, c. an adhesive disposed between each of saidregistering first contact surfaces and said second contact surfaces tobond said second member to said first member, and d. said externalreinforcing flange having a first lip.
 2. a first flange connecting oneend of each of said first webs, and b. a second longitudinal member ofgenerally U-shaped hollow cross section fitting inside said firstlongitudinal member at an angular relationship and provided with:
 2. asecond flange connecting one end of each of said second webs, c. anadhesive disposed between each of said registering first contactsurfaces and said second contact surfaces to bond said second member tosaid first member, and d. said external reinforcing flange having afirst lip.
 2. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein saidsecond member has an internal reinforcing flange projecting inwardlyfrom one of said second webs, and said internal reinforcing flange has asecond lip.
 3. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein saidsecond member has an edge contact portion secured to said first flangeby an adhesive.
 4. The structural member recited in claim 1 wherein oneof said second webs is generally arcuate.
 5. The structural memberrecited in claim 1 wherein said external reinforcing flange issubstantially straight.
 6. The structural member recited in claim 4wherein said one of said second webs is generally concave.
 7. Thestructural member recited in claim 4 wherein Said one of said secondwebs is generally convex.
 8. The structural member recited in claim 1wherein said first member is a chord member of a truss.
 9. Thestructural member recited in claim 1 wherein said second member is adiagonal member of a truss.
 10. The structural member recited in claim 2wherein said second web member has a generally flat corrugated crosssectional shape and is provided with a flat contact surface.
 11. Thestructural member recited in claim 2 wherein said second reinforcingflange is substantially straight.